Reinforced pour spout carton



Feb. 7, 1967 R. J. HENNEssEY REINFORCED'POUR SPOUT CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1965 l. k1-h il am n u Feb. 7, 1961 R. J. HENNESSEY www REINFORCED POUR sPouT CARTON.

Filed May 20, 1965 l 2 Sheets-Shes?. 2

l 50 INVENTOR 15| Russia J. Hav/wasn ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,302,847 REINFORCED POUR SPOUT CARTON Russell J. Hennessey, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed May 20, 1965, Ser. No. 457,411 8 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention relates to an improvement in reinforced pour spout cartons and deals particularly with a carton having a reinforcing web extending between the center portions of the main panels of the carton, and also incorporating a pouring spout in conjunction therewith.

In my previously described applica-tion for -a patent, Serial No. 353,937, led March 23, 1964, and now Patent No. 3,166,229, for reinforced cartons, I described a structure having a reinforcing strut connecting the center por* tions of the two main carton panels to prevent these panels from bulging outwardly. Due to the fact that the major portion of the pressure tending to bulge the panels is in the lower half of the cartons, the reinforcing web extended only one half of the height of the carton, permitting two such car-tons to be dove-tailed together in order to preserve paperboard. Cartons of the type in question and which have a great tendency to bulge usually are used to contain powdered, granular, or other flowable material as, for example, flour, cake mix, powdered milk, sugar, and the like. Most such materials are not emptied from the container at one time. In other words, only a portion of the contents is removed at a time. As a result, there is a material advantage in incorporating a pour spout and a carton reclosure in this type yof construction.

I have found that by somewhat increasing the amount of paperboard used to form the reinforced carton disclosed in my previous application above referred to, two important advantages can be obtained. In the iirst place, the vertical height of `the web connecting the main panels may be increased pastthe vertical center of the cartons. By folding a portion of the stock to lie inwardly of one package side wall and inwardly of adjoining portions of the main panels, a hinged closure may be` formed outwardly of this added portion capable of Vbeing opened" to form a pour spout.

In the structure referred to in my above-mentioned application, a strip of paperboard must `be added -to the glue flap which is of proper length to extend slightly beyond the center of a main panel of the carton. By increasing the length of this extension, and folding it back upon itself, a U-shaped inner liner member may be provided lying inwardly of a portion of a side wall and adjoining porti-ons of the main panels which -form a generally U-shaped inner liner for -a corner portion of the carton. Accordingly, a hinged cover may be formed in the portion of the carton outwardly of this Ushaped liner portion which may be opened to .permit a portion of the contents to be poured out, and which may be reclosed to protect the remainder of the content.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a pour spout carton which would normally employ a relatively large amount of paperboard to produce, and to use a portion of the paperboard which would otherwise be wasted to form an internal strut to prevent bulging of the main panels of the carton, thereby permitting thinner paperboard to be used` in the formation of the carton. As a result, While a considerable area of paperboard is added by forming the pour spout and the internal strut, the cost of the paperboard may be reduced to some extent due to the use of a lighter caliper board.

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These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specication,

FIGURE l is a perspective View of the carton with the hinged cover portion in open position to disclose the pour spout.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the closed carton, portions of which are broken away to show the interior structure.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the pour spout area of the carton.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper portion of the carton, .-the position of the section being indicated by the line 4--4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section view through the lower portion of the carton, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton is formed.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the blank after the first folding operation has been completed.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view of the blank at the completion of the second folding operation and just before the final fold is made.

The carton A is formed -of the blank best illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings. This blank includes a main panelll, a side wall panel 11, a second main panel 12, and a second side wall panel 13, foldably connected lalong parallel lines of fold 14, 15, and 16. The main panels 10 and 12 are preferably more than twice the width of theV side wall panels 13 in order that: the partition may be located at the center of 4the main panels.

The wall panels 10, 11, 12, and 113 described are usually connected along their upper edges by a substantially common line of fold 17 to top closure flaps 19, 20, 21, and 22, respectively, while the lower edges of the wall panels are -connected along a fold line 23 Ito bottom closing flaps 24, 25, 26, and 27, respectively. Obviously, other types of end closures could be similarly used.

A glue flap 29 is hingedly connected to the side wall 13'` along a fold line 3i); A partition wall extension is indicated in general by the numeral 31 `and is, in the arrangement illustrated, somewhat more than one-half the height of the -main and side walls described. The lower edge 32 of the extension 31 is substantially aligned with the fold line 23 so as not to interfere with the formation i of the lower closure by thecl-osure yflaps 24, 25, 26, and l`27. The width of the extension 31 depends upon the proportion of 4the various wall panels, but it is preferred that the combined width ofthe end wall 1,3 and glue flap 29 be somewhat less than the width W of one-'half :the main wall panels 10 and 12, or from the fold line 16 to the broken line 33 which indicates the center line of the panel 12. If this is not true, the partition cannot be located at the center of the main panel.

The extension 31 is generally rectangular in outline.

An inner ap structure 34 is formed in the extension 31v by a generally U-shaped cut line arrangement including` a vertical cut line 35 and a pair of horizontal cut lines 36 and 37 extending from the ends of the vertical cut line 35. The cut line 35 is usually spaced from the fold line 30 a distance sufficient to provide the lower end1 of the glue flap 29 so that the glue flap extends continuously throughout the height of the carton wall panels. The U-shaped cut lines thus define an inner flap structure 34 which is enclosed within a rectangular frame, this' frame including the lower portion of theglue flap 29,l

Patented Feb. 7, 1967 Q, as

an upper horizontal strap 39, a lower horizontal strap 40, and a vertical strap 41 connecting the ends of the straps 39 and 40. The inner flap structure 34 is connected to the outer flap structure 31 along a vertical fold line 38.

The inner flap structure 34 is divided into a partition panel 42 and a glue flap 43 by a vertical fold line 44. The partition panel 42 is of a width substantially equal to the width of the side walls 11 and 13 and, when the carton is erected, acts to connect the center portions of the main panels and 12.

Above the extension 31 is a pouring spout extension 45 which is partially separated from the upper edge of the extension 31 by a cut line 46. The pouring spout extension 45 is divided into three panels by a pair of vertical parallel fold lines 47 and 49, and the extension 45 is hingedly connected to the element which acts as a glue flap by a parallel fold line 50. The area between the fold lines 50 and 47 is indicated at 51 and comprises a rnain panel liner panel. The area between the fold lines 47 and 49 comprises a side wall liner panel 52. The area between the fold line 49 and the end of the extension 45 comprises a second rnain panel liner panel 53. Usually, the panels 51 and 53 are of substantially equal width.

The main panel liner panel 51 is of a width substantially equal to the width of the upper portion of the glue flap 29 to which it is hinged. Accordingly, when the extension 45 is doubled back upon itself, the liner panel 51 lies inwardly of the glue ap and is substantially coextensive therewith in width. The side wall liner panel 52 is substantially equal in width to the width of the side wall 13 and is designed to lie inwardly thereof in face contact therewith. The main panel liner panel 53 is designed to lie inwardly of the main panel 12.

A fold line 54 extends across the top closure ap 21 secured to the main panel 12, the fold line 54 extending perpendicularly to the fold line 17. A perforated line or weakened line of separation extends from the juncture of the fold line 54 and the fold line 17 across an upper corner of the main panel 12 to define a corner area which, in the particular form of construction illustrated, it is generally triangular. The weakened line 55 extends continuously across the side Wall 13 as indicated at 56, and a continuation of the same weakened line extends, as indicated at 57, across a corner of the glue flap 19. As is also indicated in FIGURE 6, the glue flap 19 hinged to the main panel 10 is also provided with a fold line 59 which coincides with the fold line 54 when the carton is closed. A perforated line or other weakened line of separation 60 extends across a corner of the main panel 10, this weakened line 60 coinciding with the weakened line 57 in the folded form of the carton.

FIGURE 7 of the drawings discloses the carton blank after the first folding operation. As indicated in FIG- URE 6, adhesive is applied in an area 61 of the glue flap 29 adjoining the fold line 50, and also to an area 62 near the free end of the extension 45. In the first folding operation, the extension 45 is folded along the fold line 50 so that the liner panel 51 is secured in face contact to the inner surface of the glue flap 29, the side wall linner panel 52 lies in face contact with the inner surface of the side wall 13, and the main panel liner panel 53 is adhered in face contact with the inner surface of the main panel 12. When this operation is complete, the blank appears as. indicated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings.

Adhesive is also applied to the glue ap 43 forming a part of the inner flap structure 34. During the second folding operation, the carton is folded along the fold line 16 which connects the main panel 12 and the side wall 13. After this folding operation, the glue flap 43 is adhered to the center portion of the main panel 12, the fold line 44 usually substantially coinciding with the main panel center line 33. At the completion of the second folding operation, the carton appears as indicated in FIG- URE 8 of the drawings.

In the position shown in FIGURE 8, adhesive is applied to the vertical strap 41 at the end of the inner flap structure, to an area 64 adjoining the fold line 50 connecting the upper pouring spout extension 45 to the glue flap 29, and along the entire glue flap 29 adjoining the fold line 30 connecting this glue ap to the side wall 13. To complete the folding operation, the carton blank is folded along the fold line 14 to adhere the adhesive coated areas of the two extensions to the main panel 10. The carton is now completed in flat folded form.

When the carton A is squared up, one end of the cart0n is closed in the customary way and the carton is lled. After filling, the other end of the carton is closed, usually by folding the flaps 20 and 22 in a common plane, and then folding the main panel closure flaps 19 and 21 into superimposed relation adhered to the inner aps 20 and 22. Usually, the tiaps 19 and 21 are formed as illustrated of a length substantially equal to the Width of the side walls 11 and 13. As will be understood, these flaps may be shortened if desired in the interest of economy, and may, if desired meet in edge-abutting relation.

When used, the partition wall 42 acts to connect center portions of the rnain panels 10 and 12 to prevent the bulging of the cartons. The partition wall 34 may extend a substantial proportion of the height of the carton if so desired. The liner panels 51, 52, and 53, lie inwardly of the main panel 10, the side wall 13, and the main panel 12 through small areas of these panels, the liner panels lying inwardly of the weakened lines of .separation which have been described. Accordingly, when it is desired to open the carton, the panels may be split along these weakened lines of separation. When this is done, the areas of the glue flaps 19 and 21 between the aligned fold lines 59 and 54 and the side wall 13 may combine with the corner area of the main panel 10, the upper portion of the side wall 13 above the weakened line 56 and the adjoining corner portion of the main panel 12 to provide a hinged closure which is shown in open position in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in reinforced pour spout cartons; while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A reinforced pour spout carton blank including:

a rst main panel, a first side wall panel, a second main panel, and a second side wall panel connected in series by substantially parallel fold lines,

a fth panel hinged to said second side wall panel along a glue flap hinge line,

a generally U-shaped cut in the lower portion of said fifth panel including a pair of spaced cut lines substantially perpendicular to said fold line and terminating in spaced relation to said glue flap hinge line, and a third cut line connecting the ends of said cut lines of said pair which are closest to said glue ap hinge line,

a fold line parallel to said previously described fold lines and connecting the ends of said cut lines of said pair which are most remote from said glue flap hinge an additional fold line extending between the cut lines of said pair and parallel to and spaced from said third cut line dividing the area within said U-shaped cut into a partition panel and a glue panel said partition panel being substantially equal in width to said side wall panels.

a pour spout extension hinged to the upper portion of said fifth panel along a pour spout extension hinge line parallel to said previously described fold lines, said pour spout being creased along parallel fold lines to provide a first main panel liner panel, a side wall liner panel, and a second main panel liner panel,

a glue flap hinged to said partition panel and secured in face contact with tlie inner surface of the other from the remainder of said panels and are hingedly connected to one said upper closure flap.

6. A reinforced pour spout carton including: rectangularly arranged walls including a pair of opsaid first main panel liner panel being of a width sub- 5 posed parallel main panels and a pair of parallel side stantially equal to the distance between said pour Wall panels connected in tubular relation, spout extension hinge line and said glue liap hinge a fifth panel hinged to one of said side wall panels and line, and said side wall liner panel being substantially having a portion thereof secured in face contact with equal in Width to said side wall panels, and the inner surface of one of said main panels, closure flaps hinged to certain of said panels. a partition panel hinged to the lower portion of said 2. The blank of claim l and in which the apertured fifth panel near the center of said one main panel lower portion of said fifth panel is separated from said and extending between said main panels generally pour spout extension by a cut line. parallel to said side wall panels,

3. A reinforced pour spout carton blank including: a glue flap hinged to said partition panel and secured a first main panel, a first side wall panel, a second main in face contact with the inner surface of the other of panel, and a second side wall panel connected in said main panels, series by substantially parallel fold lines, a pour spout extension hinged to said fifth panel along a 'lifth panel hinged to said second side wall panel along a fold line spaced from, and parallel to, the hinge a glue liap hinge line, line connecting said fifth panel to said one side wall the lower portion of said fifth panel forming a partipanel,

tion wall extension including an anchored area Said pour spout extension being above the portion of adapted to be secured in face contact with the inner Said fifth Panel o Which Said Partition Wall iS Se* Surface of said first main panel, a partition panel cured and being creased along fold lines parallel to adapted to extend between said main panels, and a said hinge line to provide a rst main panel liner glue flap adapted to be secured in face contact with Panel lying in face Contact With a portion of the the inner surface of said second main panel, inner Snrfo Of Said iifth Panel, a Sido Wall liner a pour spout extension hinged to the upper portion of panel lying inwardly of, and in face contact with, a said fifth panel along a pour spout extension hinge portion of the inner surface of said one side wall line parallel to said previously described fold lines, panel, and a second main panel liner panel lying said pour spout being creased along parallel fold lines inwardly of, and in faCo ConiaCi Willi, a Portion 0f to provide a first main panel liner panel, a side wall ille other Inain Panel, liner panel, and a second main panel liner panel, closure flaps secured to the upper edges of said side said first main panel liner panel being of a width sub- WallS and folded inwardly into a Colnrnon Piane, and stantially equal to the distance between said pour CloSUro iiaPS on Said main Paiieis foidabio into face spoilt extension hinge line and said glue nap hinge contact against said side wall closure flaps and seline, and said side wall liner panel being substantially Cured in Position, equal in width to said side wall panels, and, fold lines extending across said main panel closure flaps closure iiaps hinged to certain of said panels. Parallel to Said Sido WaliS and SPaCod from Said one Il. A reinforced pour spout carton including; side wall a distance no more than the width of said rectangularly arranged walls including a pair of op- Inain Panel liner Panels, and CoiiiinlloilS lirios of Sold' posed parallel main panels and a pair of parallel side aratiOn extending frOm the ends Of Said last named wall panels connected in tubular relation, fold line across corner portions of said main panels a iiftli panel hinged to one of said side wall panels and and aCrOSS Said one Side Wall, Said lines of Separahaving a portion thereof secured in face contact with tion lying outwardly of Said 1iner PaneiS and the inner surface of one of said main panels, the portions of said main panel closure liaps between a partition panel hinged to the lower portion of said Said fold line therein and said one side wall combinfiftli panel near the center of said one main panel ing With the adjoining Corner PoiiionS of Said rnan and extending between said main panels generally Panel and UPPor Portion of Said one Side Panel to parallel to said side wall panels, provide a hinged Closure.

7. The structure of claim 6 and. in which the side wall closure flap on said one side wall is no longer than the distance between said fold line in said main panel closure flaps and said one side wall.

of said main panels, a pour spout extension hinged to said fifth panel along a fold line spaced from, and parallel to, the hinge 8. A reinforced pour spout carton including:

line connecting said fifth panel to said one side wall rectangularly arranged walls including a pair of op- Panel, posed parallel main panels and a pair of parallel side sa1d Pour SPoUt eXtenSion boing aooVe 'die Portion of wall panels connected in tubular relation,

Said fifiii Panel to Which Said Partition Wall iS Seourod a fifth panel hinged to one of said side wall panels and gebil tgeallidaeogrfslles rlallleo a having a portion thereof secured in face contact with lying in face cldntact with a portionpof the innef) siithe Inner surface -Of one of Said miam panels face of Said fth panel, a side Wan liner panel lying a pour spout extension hinged to said fifth panel along inwardly of, and in face contact with, a portion of a. fold hue paceq from and paraul to th? hmge the inner surface of Said one Side Wall panel, anda line connecting sa1d fifth panel to sa1d one side wall second main panel liner panel lying inwardly of, and panel in face Contact with, a portion of the other main closure flaps on the upper edges of said main panel and panel and on at least said one s1de wall secured to provide a end closure flaps hingedly connected to the Lipper and top closure lower portions of at least certain of Said main panels a fold line extending across said top closure parallel to and side Wan panels and foldable to provide end C1o said one side wall and spaced therefrom a distance Suresat not exceeding the width of said main panel liner 5. The structure of claim 4 and in which portions of Panels, the first and second main panels and said one side wall continuous lines of separation extending from the ends panel lying outwardly of said liner panels are separable of said top closure fold line across corner portions 'E' 3 of said main panels and across said one side Wall, References Cited by the Examiner said lines of separation being outwardly of said liner UNITED STATES PATENTS panels, and the corner portions of said main panels above said lines l931270 10/19 Rice 229' 17 of separation and the portion of said one side wall 5 2325795 2/19 Struble 229M17 above said line of separation combining with the por* tion of said top closure between said fold line therein JOSEPH R' LECLAIR P'lmary Examiner' and said one side Wall to provide a hinged closure. R. PESHOCK, Assislant Examiner. 

1. A REINFORCED POUR SPOUT CARTON BLANK INCLUDING: A FIRST MAIN PANEL, A FIRST SIDE WALL PANEL, A SECOND MAIN PANEL, AND A SECOND SIDE WALL PANEL CONNECTED IN SERIES BY SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL FOLD LINES, A FIFTH PANEL HINGED TO SAID SECOND SIDE WALL PANEL ALONG A GLUE FLAP HINGE LINE, A GENERALLY U-SHAPED CUT IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID FIFTH PANEL INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED CUT LINES SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FOLD LINE AND TERMINATING IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID GLUE FLAP HINGE LINE, AND A THIRD CUT LINE CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID CUT LINES OF SAID PAIR WHICH ARE CLOSEST TO SAID GLUE FLAP HINGE LINE, A FOLD LINE PARALLEL TO SAID PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED FOLD LINES AND CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID CUT LINES OF SAID PAIR WHICH ARE MOST REMOTE FROM SAID GLUE FLAP HINGE LINE, AN ADDITIONAL FOLD LINE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE BED FOLD OF SAID PAIR AND PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM SAID THIRD CUT LINE DIVINDING THE AREA WITHIN SAID U-SHAPED CUT INTO A PARTITION PANEL AND A GLUE PANEL SAID PORTION PANEL BEING SUBSTANTIALY EQUAL IN WIDTH TO SAID SIDE WALL PANELS. A POUR SPOUT EXTENSION HINGED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID FIFTH PANEL ALONG A POUR SPOUT EXTENSION HINGE LINE PARALLEL TO SAID PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED FOLD LINES, SAID POUR SPOUT BEING CREASED ALONG PARALLEL FOLD LINES TO PROVIDE A FIRST MAIN PANEL LINER PANEL, A SIDE WALL LINER PANEL, AND A SECOND MAIN PANEL LINER PANEL, SAID FIRST MAIN PANEL LINER PANEL BEING OF A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID POUR SPOUT EXTENSION HINGE LINE AND SAID GLUE FLAP HINGE LINE, AND SAID SIDE WALL LINER PANEL BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL IN WIDTH TO SAID SIDE WALL PANELS, AND CLOSURE FLAPS HINGED TO CERTAIN OF SAID PANELS. 